New civil engineering graduates bring international talent to Finland’s construction sector
Finland’s construction sector is currently grappling with a dual challenge: a shortage of skilled labour and unemployment due to the economic cycle. There is a particular need for university-educated construction professionals.
This challenge has not gone unnoticed at Tampere University. Professor Mikko Malaska, Vice Dean for Education at the Faculty of Built Environment (BEN), points out that Finland’s university-aged population is expected to decline sharply over the next five years. According to Malaska, there is a significant risk that the construction sector will not attract enough new, educated professionals to replace retiring employees and fill the gaps left by shrinking age cohorts.
“One solution to this challenge is international students coming from abroad. Despite the current downturn in the construction sector, we wanted to act now to ensure we have a well-established degree programme in place, ready to meet future demand,” says Malaska.
Finnish companies and public sector organisations have traditionally recruited MSc graduates from Finnish-language civil engineering programmes. Now they have an excellent opportunity to tap into international talent and gain a competitive edge.
“This increases diversity and multiculturalism within organisations. The graduates from our English-language civil engineering programme will also help to address the rapid decline in the number of young people who reach university age in the next few years and graduate in the 2030s.”
Poised to take on professional and management roles in the construction sector
Launched at Tampere University in the autumn of 2023, the Master’s Programme in Civil Engineering offers specialisations in geotechnical engineering, structural engineering and sustainable transport. The 120-credit programme is designed to be completed in two years.
Civil engineering graduates often pursue specialist or management careers in Finland or abroad. Potential employers include consultancy or construction companies, the transport and logistics sector, public organisations, universities and research institutions.
Ten of the twelve students who initially enrolled in the master’s programme will graduate this spring. Sixteen new students joined the programme last autumn. While most of the first cohort specialised in structural engineering, the majority of the new students are now studying sustainable transport as their major subject.
“The first cohorts of students are a talented and academically gifted group. Some have already joined research groups at Tampere University and are now applying for doctoral studies,” notes Malaska.
Setting sights on a career in transport innovations
Nikoo Razavi specialised in sustainable transport and graduated from the master’s programme in April. Finland’s strong academic reputation led her to choose Tampere as her study destination. Tampere University was not the only option for Razavi, who is originally from Iran, but the smooth visa process ultimately tipped the scales in its favour.
Razavi has found that securing employment in Finnish companies can be challenging for international graduates. She is aiming to build a career in the development of automated vehicles from the perspective of transport. She is off to a promising start: Razavi recently began her dissertation research on automated transport systems at the Transport Research Centre Verne at Tampere University.
“This is an exciting, constantly evolving field full of unknowns. Once I have built a strong academic foundation, I hope to transition into industry and contribute to real-world applications around the world. I am especially interested in how transport innovations reshape cities and influence people’s travel behaviour.”
The pursuit of professional ambitions led to Tampere
Ahtesham ur Rehman was determined to pursue an academic degree specifically in Finland, and Tampere University offered the ideal opportunity to deepen his expertise in structural engineering, which he had originally acquired in his native Pakistan. What appealed to him about Finnish universities was their student-centred approach, emphasis on creativity and freedom of choice.
“Calling professors by their first name was surprising at first, but it makes the academic environment feel more equal and respectful,” says Rehman.
Rehman will graduate from the Master's Programme in Civil Engineering in June and has already applied his skills in practice while working as a research assistant in a project led by Professor Sami Pajunen within the Metal and Lightweight Structures research group.
Rehman is currently exploring options to pursue further studies but is also open to employment opportunities. Having grown fond of Finnish winters, Rehman has begun to feel at home here and is eager to build his professional future in Finland.
“I am looking to become an expert in structural engineering, continue research, and contribute to sustainable construction and infrastructure.”
Author: Anna Aatinen
